Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide
Fifth Edition
Referencing DOs and DON’Ts
Some things to be aware of when citing and referencing other people’s work.
DO:
- Make use of referencing websites.
- Check before you start which referencing format is required. Different universities have different preferences, and the rules can change from course to course, and sometimes from tutor to tutor.
- Follow the rules. Whichever style you’re supposed to follow, obey its rules meticulously.
- Include a reference list at the end of your assignment.
- Include in the reference list anything that you have used or quoted.
- List authors, editors and other sources alphabetically.
- In both your in-text citations and reference list, check that you have spelled every name correctly.
- Copy words exactly when quoting, and remember to include page numbers (if available) when referencing quotations.
DON’T:
- Ignore the different rules for referencing different kinds of work – for example, you need different information for books, journal articles and web pages.
- Leave referencing to the last minute: keep a note of things you need to reference along the way.
- Leave out any sources you have used.
- Reference sources you haven’t used.
- Quote without making it clear through your formatting and referencing that it’s a quote.